Gilchrist County, Florida

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Gilchrist County
U.S. county
Gilchrist County Courthouse
Map of Florida highlighting Gilchrist County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°44′N 82°48′W / 29.73°N 82.8°W / 29.73; -82.8
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedDecember 4, 1925
Named forAlbert W. Gilchrist
SeatTrenton
Largest cityTrenton
Area
 • Total355 sq mi (920 km2)
 • Land350 sq mi (900 km2)
 • Water5.6 sq mi (15 km2)  1.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
18,582
 • Density48/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitegilchrist.fl.us
Gilchrist County Courthouse, in Trenton

Gilchrist County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Florida. Organized in 1925 from the western part of Alachua, it is the last county to be formed in the state. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,939.[1] The county seat is Trenton.[2]

Gilchrist County is included in the Gainesville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History[]

Gilchrist County was created in 1925, the last county organized in Florida. It was named for Albert W. Gilchrist, Governor of Florida from 1909 to 1913. It was formed by residents of what was then western Alachua County, as they believed they were not getting adequate representation on the county commission. With the poor roads of the time, they felt it took too long to get to the county seat of Gainesville. They disagreed about a proposed law that would require fencing in cattle in the rural area. They also believed that they would be better off by getting their own share of racetrack revenues, which the state distributed by county.[3]

Much of the county was farmland and timberland when formed, and it is largely rural. Several natural springs are adjacent to the Santa Fe River, including Ginnie Springs, Hart Springs, and Gilchrist Blue Springs, the last of which became a Florida state park in 2017.[3]

Historic buildings[]

Historic buildings in Gilchrist County include:

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 355 square miles (920 km2), of which 350 square miles (910 km2) is land and 5.6 square miles (15 km2) (1.6%) is water.[6] It is the fifth-smallest county in Florida by land area and fourth-smallest by total area.

Adjacent counties[]

  • Columbia County, Florida – northeast
  • Alachua County, Florida – east
  • Levy County, Florida – south
  • Dixie County, Florida – southwest
  • Suwannee County, Florida – northwest
  • Lafayette County, Florida – northwest

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19304,137—
19404,2502.7%
19503,499−17.7%
19602,868−18.0%
19703,55123.8%
19805,76762.4%
19909,66767.6%
200014,43749.3%
201016,93917.3%
2019 (est.)18,582[7]9.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2019[1]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 14,437 people, 5,021 households, and 3,715 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16/km2). There were 5,906 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.52% White, 7.00% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. 2.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In terms of ancestry, 16.9% were English, 13.9% were Irish, 13.7% were American, and 11.4% were German.

There were 5,021 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 14.20% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,328, and the median income for a family was $34,485. Males had a median income of $27,359 versus $21,946 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,985. About 10.90% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

Economy[]

The Trenton State Farmer's Market is located on State Road 47, north of Trenton.[13]

Politics[]

Voter registration[]

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans maintain a majority of registered voters in Gilchrist County.

Gilchrist County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of December 31, 2016[14]
Political Party Total Voters Percentage
Republican 6,156 53.64%
Democratic 3,568 31.09%
other party affiliation 313 2.73%
no party affiliation 1,439 12.54%
Total 11,476 100.00%

Statewide Elections[]

Presidential elections results
Gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2018 81.12% 5,975 17.40% 1,282 1.48% 109
2014 69.24% 4,129 24.90% 1,485 5.86% 349
2010 61.71% 3,321 33.39% 1,797 4.90% 264
2006 59.59% 3,160 35.94% 1,906 4.47% 237
2002 60.34% 3,060 38.06% 1,930 1.60% 81
1998 59.83% 2,097 40.17% 1,408
1994 53.05% 1,922 46.95% 1,701

Library[]

The Gilchrist County Public library is part of the Three Rivers Regional Library System, which also serves Dixie, Lafayette, and Taylor counties.

Communities[]

Cities[]

Town[]

Census-designated places[]

Other unincorporated communities[]

Notable person[]

Easton Corbin, country music singer

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Gilchrist County, Florida", EReference Desk, 2004-2018
  4. ^ "Historic Florida jail for sale -- and it might be haunted". Memphis, Tennessee: Fox 13 News. April 18, 2021. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Mavrakis, Emily (April 17, 2021). "For sale: Gilchrist County Jail … and its ghostly inhabitants". The Gainesville Sun. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. ^ "Trenton State Farmer's Market" Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 15, 2018.

External links[]

Government links/Constitutional offices[]

Special districts[]

Judicial branch[]

Museum and Library Resources[]

Coordinates: 29°44′N 82°48′W / 29.73°N 82.80°W / 29.73; -82.80

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